U.S. patent application number 12/352522 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-15 for method and system for scanning television channels.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Liviu Burciu, Tonni Sandager Larsen, William Schupp, Yuko Suzuki, Norifumi Takaya, Max Wu.
Application Number | 20100177252 12/352522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42316754 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100177252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Larsen; Tonni Sandager ; et
al. |
July 15, 2010 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCANNING TELEVISION CHANNELS
Abstract
A method of scanning television channels at initial setup. The
method includes at a first power mode, automatically scanning for
channels using a first scanning setup procedure during which the
television is unusable by a user. The first power mode is when the
television is at a full power mode. The detected channels are
automatically provided for use by the television upon completion of
the first scanning setup procedure. The method further includes
automatically scanning for channels using a second scanning setup
procedure at a second power mode following the first power mode.
The second power mode is at a lower power mode than the first power
mode, and the second scanning setup procedure is more time
consuming in comparison to the first scanning setup procedure.
Additional channels not detected during the initial setup by the
first scanning setup procedure are automatically detected at the
second power mode.
Inventors: |
Larsen; Tonni Sandager;
(Escondido, CA) ; Suzuki; Yuko; (Tokyo, JP)
; Takaya; Norifumi; (San Diego, CA) ; Schupp;
William; (San Diego, CA) ; Wu; Max; (San
Diego, CA) ; Burciu; Liviu; (Loma Linda, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SONY C/O MURABITO, HAO & BARNES LLP
TWO NORTH MARKET STREET, THIRD FLOOR
SAN JOSE
CA
95113
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
NJ
Sony Electronics, Inc.
Parkridge
|
Family ID: |
42316754 |
Appl. No.: |
12/352522 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/732 ;
348/E5.097 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/50 20130101; H04N
21/4432 20130101; H04N 5/63 20130101; H04N 21/4383 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/732 ;
348/E05.097 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/50 20060101
H04N005/50 |
Claims
1. A method of scanning television channels at initial setup, said
method comprising: at a first power mode, automatically scanning
for channels using a first scanning setup procedure during which
said television is unusable by a user, wherein said first power
mode is when said television is at a full power mode; upon
completion of said first scanning setup procedure, automatically
providing detected channels for use by said television; and at a
second power mode, automatically scanning for channels using a
second scanning setup procedure, wherein said second power mode is
at a lower power mode than said first power mode, and wherein said
second scanning setup procedure is more comprehensive in comparison
to said first scanning setup procedure.
2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said automatically
scanning for channels using said second scanning setup procedure
further comprises: automatically detecting additional channels not
detected during said initial setup by said first scanning setup
procedure.
3. The method as described in claim 2 further comprising: in
response to said detecting said additional channels, automatically
providing said additional channels for use by said television when
said television is at said first power mode.
4. The method as described in claim 2 further comprising: in
response to said detecting said additional channels, automatically
prompting said user that said additional channels are detected,
wherein said prompting occurs at said first power mode.
5. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:
subsequent to said automatically scanning for channels using said
second scanning setup procedure, automatically and periodically
scanning for channels using said second scanning setup procedure at
standby power mode.
6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said second scanning
setup procedure has a longer time out parameter for finding a
channel in comparison to said first scanning setup procedure.
7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said first scanning
setup procedure is limited to using a carrier and a modulation used
to find a first detected channel when detecting remaining
channels.
8. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that when
executed implement a method for scanning television channels at
initial setup, said method comprising: at a first power mode,
automatically scanning for channels using a first scanning setup
procedure during which said television is unusable by a user,
wherein said first power mode is when said television is at a full
power mode; upon completion of said first scanning setup procedure,
automatically providing detected channels for use by said
television; and at a second power mode, automatically scanning for
channels using a second scanning setup procedure, wherein said
second power mode is at a lower power mode than said first power
mode, and wherein said second scanning setup procedure is more
comprehensive in comparison to said first scanning setup
procedure.
9. The computer readable medium as described in claim 8, wherein
said automatically scanning for channels using said second scanning
setup procedure further comprises: automatically detecting
additional channels not detected during said initial setup by said
first scanning setup procedure.
10. The computer readable medium as described in claim 9, wherein
said method further comprises: in response to said detecting said
additional channels, automatically providing said additional
channels for use by said television when said television is at said
first power mode.
11. The computer readable medium as described in claim 9, wherein
said method further comprises: in response to said detecting said
additional channels, automatically prompting said user that said
additional channels are detected, wherein said prompting occurs at
said first power mode.
12. The computer readable medium as described in claim 8, wherein
said method further comprises: subsequent to said automatically
scanning for channels using said second scanning setup procedure,
automatically and periodically scanning for channels using said
second scanning setup procedure at standby power mode.
13. The computer readable medium as described in claim 8, wherein
said second scanning setup procedure has a longer time out
parameter for finding a channel in comparison to said first
scanning setup procedure.
14. The computer readable medium as described in claim 8, wherein
said first scanning setup procedure is limited to using a carrier
and a modulation used to find a first detected channel when
detecting remaining channels.
15. A television set comprising: a power detector operable to
automatically detect a power mode of said television set; a first
scan component for automatically scanning for channels at a first
power mode using a first scanning setup procedure during which said
television is unusable by a user; a processor for processing data,
wherein said processor automatically provides detected channels
resulting from said first scanning setup procedure for use by said
user; a second scan component for automatically scanning for
channels at a second power mode using a second scanning setup
procedure, wherein said second scanning setup procedure is more
lengthy and comprehensive in comparison to said first scanning
setup procedure, and wherein said second scanning setup procedure
is operable to detect channels in addition to detected channels
resulting from said first scanning setup procedure; and a display
for rendering images.
16. The television set as described in claim 15, wherein said
channels in addition to detected channels resulting from said first
scanning setup procedure are automatically provided to said user at
said first power mode.
17. The television set as described in claim 15, wherein said
processor automatically prompts said user that said channels in
addition to detected channels resulting from said first scanning
setup procedure are detected, wherein said prompting occurs at said
first power mode.
18. The television set as described in claim 15, wherein said first
power mode is when said television is at a full power mode.
19. The television set as described in claim 15, wherein said
second scan component automatically and periodically scans for
channels using said second scanning setup procedure at a standby
power mode.
20. The television set as described in claim 15, wherein said
second scanning setup procedure has a longer time out parameter for
finding a channel in comparison to said first scanning setup
procedure.
21. The television set as described in claim 15, wherein said first
scanning setup procedure is limited to using a carrier and a
modulation used to find a first detected channel when detecting
remaining channels.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of
electronics. More particularly, embodiments of the present
invention relate to automatic scanning of television channels.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, television sets are setup before being used for
the first time. For example, a television set must scan available
channels before it can be used to display broadcast channels. Some
channels may be harder to scan and to detect. Many cable and
selectable providers have long channel selections. As a result,
scanning for channels may take a long time, e.g., 50 minutes.
Unfortunately, the television set cannot be used to display
broadcast channels during the scanning period. Therefore, the
longer it takes to scan for channels the longer the television set
remains unavailable to the user, thereby inconveniencing and
potentially frustrating the new television set owner.
[0003] In general, channels cannot be added after the television
set completes scanning for channels unless a new scan is performed.
As described above, scanning for channels may take a long time,
thereby inconveniencing the user by making the television set
unavailable during scanning. Therefore, many users may new channels
may go undetected.
[0004] One conventional method to reduce the time required for
channel scanning is to use a fast scanning method. Unfortunately,
the fast scanning method is not a comprehensive scan of all the
channels, thereby omitting many of the channels that are harder to
scan. As a result of using fast scan only a fraction of the
broadcast channels are detected and become available to the user
for viewing while other broadcast channels remain unavailable to
the user.
SUMMARY
[0005] Accordingly, a need has arisen to enable faster channel scan
to provide detected channels to the user in a timely fashion while
providing an overall scan process that is comprehensive regarding
channel detection. Furthermore, a need has arisen to provide a
comprehensive channel scan when the television is not used by the
user, e.g., when in a low power mode, standby, etc., to detect
channels that were missed during the faster channel scan. Moreover,
a need has arisen to automatically and periodically provide a
comprehensive channel scan to detect newly added channels. It will
become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the detailed
description of the present invention that the embodiments of the
present invention remedy the above mentioned needs and provide the
above referenced advantages.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a
first scanning setup procedure and a second scanning procedure are
provided. The first scanning setup procedure is faster than the
second scanning setup procedure. The threshold timeout for the
first scanning setup procedure may be decreased during channel
scan, thereby executing faster in comparison to the second scanning
setup procedure. Moreover, the first scanning setup procedure may
use the modulation and the carrier standard of the first found
channel to detect the remainder of the broadcast channels.
Therefore, the first scanning setup procedure executes faster in
comparison to the second scanning setup procedure. It is
appreciated that while the second scanning setup procedure requires
a longer time to execute in comparison to the first scanning setup
procedure, the second scanning setup procedure provides a more
comprehensive channel scan and may take place while the television
set is in standby mode.
[0007] More specifically, the first scanning setup procedure may be
automatically launched at the initial setup procedure, e.g., the
first time the television set is being setup. During the first
scanning setup procedure, the television set becomes unavailable to
the user. Upon rapid completion of the first scanning setup
procedure, the detected channels become available to the user. The
lengthy second scanning setup procedure may be automatically
launched when the television set is placed in a lower power mode,
e.g., standby mode, any mode of collecting interactive program
guide, power off mode, etc. In other words, the more comprehensive
channel scan is performed in the background and when the television
set is not used by the user.
[0008] According to one embodiment, additional channels may be
detected during the second scanning setup procedure executed
periodically. The additional detected channels may be channels that
were missed during the first scanning setup procedure. The user may
be prompted that newly detected channels are ready for viewing when
the television set is placed back to its full operating mode, e.g.,
on mode.
[0009] Accordingly, the rapid first scanning setup procedure
provides access to a limited number of detected channels in a
timely fashion. The lengthy second scanning setup procedure on the
other hand detects channels that were missed during the first
scanning setup procedure. The second scanning setup procedure
executes when the television set is not being used. Thus, a limited
number of channels are provided in a timely fashion while a
comprehensive list of channels are provided upon completion of the
second scanning setup procedure.
[0010] It is appreciated that the second scanning setup procedure
may be automatically launched at a user defined intervals to detect
newly added channels that are part of the broadcast channels.
Similarly, the user may be prompted and notified that new channels
are detected.
[0011] More particularly a method of scanning television channels
at initial setup is provided. The method includes automatically
scanning for channels using a first scanning setup procedure at a
first power mode, e.g., full power mode. During the first scanning
setup procedure the television is unusable by a user. Upon
completion of the first scanning setup procedure, the detected
channels are automatically provided for use by the television. The
method further includes automatically scanning for channels using a
second scanning setup procedure at a second power mode following
the first power mode. It is appreciated that the second power mode
is at a lower power mode than the first power mode, and wherein the
second scanning setup procedure is more time consuming in
comparison to the first scanning setup procedure.
[0012] It is appreciated that the second scanning setup procedure
may have a longer time out parameter for finding a channel in
comparison to the first scanning setup procedure. The first
scanning setup procedure may use only the carrier and the
modulation used to find a first detected channel to detect the
remaining channels while the second procedure is not so limited.
Thus, the second scanning setup procedure is more comprehensive in
comparison to the first scanning setup procedure.
[0013] The embodiments include the above and wherein the method
further includes while the television set is in the second power
mode, automatically detecting additional channels not detected
during the initial setup by the first scanning setup procedure. The
method may further include, in response to detecting the additional
channels, automatically providing the additional channels for use
by the television when the television is at the first power mode.
It is appreciated that the user may be automatically prompted that
the additional channels are detected, wherein the prompting occurs
at the first power mode.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the method may further include
subsequent to automatically scanning for channels using the second
scanning setup procedure, automatically and periodically scanning
for channels using the second scanning setup procedure at standby
power mode
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way
of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the
accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to
similar elements and in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method of
scanning channels in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method of fast
channel scanning in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary television set in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in
conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they
are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On
the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives,
modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the
present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order
to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
However, it will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art
that the present invention may be practiced without these specific
details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures,
components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not
to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention.
NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
[0020] Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are
presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing,
and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that
can be performed on television set memory. These descriptions and
representations are the means used by those skilled in the art to
most effectively convey the substance of their work to others
skilled in the art. A procedure, television set executed step,
logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived to be
a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading to a
desired result. The steps are those requiring physical
manipulations of physical quantities.
[0021] Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the
form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,
transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a
computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for
reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values,
elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
[0022] It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and
similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical
quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these
quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from
the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the
present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing"
or "creating" or "transferring" or "executing" or "determining" or
"instructing" or "issuing" or "halting" or "clearing" or
"accessing" or "aggregating" or "obtaining" or "selecting" or
"calculating" or "measuring" or "querying" or "receiving" or
"sending" or "providing" or "storing" or "displaying" or
"rendering" or "scanning" or "detecting" or "prompting" or the
like, refer to the action and processes of a television set, or
similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and
transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities
within the television set's registers and memories into other data
similarly represented as physical quantities within the television
set memories or registers or other such information storage,
transmission or display devices.
[0023] A Method and System for Scanning Television Channels
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary computer implemented
method 100 of a television set automatically scanning channels in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown.
At step 110, a user may power on the television set. A setup of a
television set may be required before the television set can be
used for the first time. For example, the television set is
required to scan for broadcast channels before allowing the user to
watch the detected channels. Accordingly, at step 112, it is
determined whether the television set has completed a first time
setup such as an initial setup for channel scanning.
[0025] If it is determined that the first setup, e.g., channel
scanning, has been completed, then at step 160 the detected
channels are automatically provided for use by the user. It is
appreciated that the user may interact with the detected channels
when the television set is in a full power mode.
[0026] On the other hand, if the first time setup, e.g., channel
scanning, has not been completed then no channels have been
detected so at step 120, a quick scan to setup channels is
automatically executed in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. It is appreciated that the quick scan is
executed when the television set is in a full power mode. The quick
scan may be a cursory scan to detect channels rapidly. For example,
the quick scan may only take a few minutes to complete, e.g., 5
minutes.
[0027] At step 130, the detected channels are stored in memory and
may be automatically provided to the user after the completion of
the quick scan execution. It is appreciated that the detected
channels may be provided for use when the television set is in a
full power mode, e.g., on. Accordingly, the user may use the
detected channels resulting from the completion of the quick scan
in a short and convenient period of time.
[0028] At step 140, a lengthy and comprehensive full scan is
automatically executed when the television set is placed in a lower
power mode. For example, when the user finishes watching
television, the television set may be placed in a lower power mode,
e.g., a standby mode, etc. In other words, the full scan is
executed when the television set is in a power mode other than its
full operating mode. Accordingly, the full scan is executed in the
background when the television set is not being used. Thus, in the
lower power modes, it is of no consequence how long it may take to
execute and complete the full scan because the television set is
not being used by the user. In the full scan, detected channels are
added to the memory.
[0029] It is appreciated that the full scan is a more comprehensive
scan in comparison to the quick scan. In general, scanning scans
through various modulation standards, carrier standards and
different frequencies in order to detect a channel. Scanning may
have a timeout associated with at least one of the carrier
standards, modulation standards and/or frequencies. As a result,
the scanning times out and changes at least one of: carrier
standard, modulation and/or frequency when a channel is not
detected during the allotted time.
[0030] Some carrier standards, modulations and frequencies are more
difficult to detect, thereby requiring a longer threshold time to
be detected. In order to reduce the scanning time, the timeout
associated with at least one of the carrier standards, the
modulation standards and/or frequencies may be decreased during the
quick scan. Reducing the timeout associated with at least one of
carrier standards, modulation standards and/or frequencies in the
quick scan may lead to a failure to detect a channel during
scanning even though that channel is being broadcast. However,
reducing the timeout in the quick scan enables those detected
channels to become available to the user in a shorter period of
time in comparison to the full scan.
[0031] The comprehensive full scan may be executed in order to
detect channels that were missed during the quick scan. This scan
may take 40 minutes or longer to complete in a typical instance.
The full scan may execute in the background when the television set
is at a lower power mode. As a result, newly detected channels that
were missed by the quick scan become available to the user after
the execution of the full scan is completed and when the television
set is placed in a higher power mode, e.g., turned on. Thus, not
only does the user have access to channels detected during quick
scan in a short period of time resulting but a comprehensive list
of channels becomes available at the completion of the full scan
execution.
[0032] At step 142, it is automatically determined whether a new
channel resulting from a full scan is detected. If the full scan
detects new channels, then at optional step 150, the user may
automatically be prompted to inform the user that new channels are
detected. It is appreciated that the user is prompted the next time
the television set is placed in a higher power mode, e.g., turned
on. At step 160, the detected channels resulting from both the
quick scan and the full scan become available and are automatically
presented to the user when the television set is in a full power
mode. On the other hand, if the full scan does not find a new
channel, then at step 160, the detected channels resulting from the
quick scan are automatically provided to the user when the
television set is in a full power mode.
[0033] It is appreciated that in one optional embodiment, at step
170, the full scan is executed periodically when the television set
is in a lower power mode, e.g., turned off, standby, etc. It is
appreciated that the time duration between periodic scanning using
the full scan may be set during manufacturing and/or it may be user
definable. Accordingly, new channels may be automatically detected
when new channels are added and broadcast by the service
provider.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary computer controlled
method 200 of quick channel scanning in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention is shown. At step 210, a
carrier standard may be used to scan for channels. Carrier
standards may include incrementally related carrier (IRC),
harmonically related carrier (HRC), standard broadcast frequency
(STD), etc.
[0035] At step 220, a modulation standard is used to scan for
channels. For example, the modulation standard may include 8
vestigial sideband modulation (8VSB), quadrature amplitude
modulation 64 (QAM 64), QAM 128, QAM 256, etc.
[0036] At step 222, the quick scan automatically determines whether
a channel is found. If a channel is found for the carrier standard
and the modulation standard, then at step 230, only the same
carrier standard and the same modulation standard is used during
scanning in order to find the remaining channels. In other words,
based on the first channel that is found, the quick scan presumes
that all other channels use the same modulation standard and the
same carrier standard. Scanning is therefore limited to these
standards. Accordingly, the quick scan does not need to go through
the remaining carrier standards and modulation standards, thereby
reducing the execution time.
[0037] On the other hand, if a channel is not found within a given
threshold time period, the scanning for channels using that
particular carrier standard and modulation standard times out. It
is appreciated that reducing the threshold time is a tradeoff
between the fast scan setup procedure executing faster and
detecting more channels. At step 224, it is determined whether all
the modulation standards have been used. If all the modulation
standards have not been used, at step 240, the modulation standard
is changed. As a result, at step 220, the same carrier standard is
used with a new modulation standard to scan and to detect a
channel.
[0038] At step 224, if it is determined that all the modulation
standards have been used, at step 250, the carrier standard is
changed to a next carrier standard. As a result, at step 210, a new
carrier standard is used to scan and to detect a channel.
Accordingly, the process for finding a channel may be repeated
until a channel is found.
[0039] It is appreciated that other embodiments may repeat the
process without using the modulation standard and the carrier
standard for the first channel that is found. For example, the
exemplary method 200 may be repeated without step 230. As such, a
predetermined number of channels, e.g., 10 channels, may be
detected. Thereafter, statistical analysis may be performed on the
carrier standard and the modulation of each of the detected
channels in order to determine the carrier standard and the
modulation standard to be used to detect the remainder of the
channels. In other words, a statistical analysis of a few channels
that have been found may be used to determine the appropriate
modulation standard and the appropriate carrier standard to be used
to detect the remaining channels. As a result, the statistical
analysis leads to detection of maximum number of channels during
the quick scan period.
[0040] It is appreciated that in one embodiment, the execution time
of the fast scan may be further reduced by reducing of the
threshold time causing the scanning to timeout when a channel is
not found for a given carrier standard and a given modulation
standard. As a result, the execution of the quick scan setup
procedure may be completed in less time than the full scan setup
procedure. It is further appreciated that the execution time for
quick scan may be further reduced by reducing or removing channel
tuning. Moreover, the execution time for the quick scan setup
procedure may be further reduced by eliminating the decoding to
determine whether a found channel is scrambled.
[0041] Accordingly, the use of the quick scan and the full scan
strikes a balance between the number of channels provided and the
amount of time it takes to provide those channels to the user. For
example, one embodiment may provide a limited number of channels in
a very short amount of time while providing a more comprehensive
list of channels after the completion of the full scan
execution.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates components of an exemplary computer
controlled television set 300 that may serve as a platform for
embodiments of the present invention. Although specific components
are disclosed in system 300 it should be appreciated that such
components are examples. That is, embodiments of the present
invention are well suited to having various other components or
variations of the components recited in system 300. The exemplary
television set 300 may implement the process for scanning
television channels as shown in FIGS. 1-2 includes a processor 303
for processing information and a tuner 314 for tuning the
television set 300 to detect channels and signals associated
therewith. It is appreciated that the tuner 314 may also convert
the detected channel signals into a suitable form that is
appropriate for processing by the processor 303.
[0043] The exemplary television set 300 also includes a main memory
305, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage
device for storing information and instructions to be executed by
processor 303. Main memory 305 also may be used for storing
temporary variables or other intermediate information during
execution of instructions to be executed by processor 303. The
exemplary television set 300 further includes a read only memory
(ROM) 307 or other static storage device for storing static
information and instructions for processor 303. A non-volatile
storage device 309, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is
provided for storing information and instructions and may store the
persistent internal queue. According to one embodiment, the
instructions for implementing the virtual device may be stored on
any one of the memory components (e.g., RAM, ROM, non-volatile
storage device and etc.). The exemplary television set 300 may
comprise a display screen 311, e.g., cathode ray tube (CRT), for
displaying information to a computer user.
[0044] The term "computer-readable medium" as used herein refers to
any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor
303 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but
not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and
transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example,
optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 309. Volatile
media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 305.
Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber
optics, including the wires. Transmission media can also take the
form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during
radio wave and infrared data communications.
[0045] Common forms of computer-readable media include, for
example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape,
or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium,
punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of
holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory
chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any
other medium from which a computer or a television set can
read.
[0046] The exemplary television set 300 may also include a power
detector 313. The power detector 313 may be used to determine
whether the television set is in a fully power mode, e.g., on, or
at a lower power mode, e.g., standby, off, etc. The television set
300 may further include a quick scan component 315. The quick scan
component 315 is operable to scan for channels during first initial
setup. The operation of the quick scan component 315 may be similar
to that of the quick scan described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
television set 300 may further include a full scan component 317.
The full scan component 317 is operable to scan for channels when
the television set is in a lower power mode, e.g., standby, off,
etc. It is appreciated that the full scan component 317 may scan
for channels, thereby detect channels that may have been missed
during the quick scan setup. It is appreciated that the full scan
component 317 may operate substantially similar to the full scan
described in FIG. 1.
[0047] The system 300 may further include content receiver 302,
display controller 304, command receiver 308, audio controller 316,
transmitter 320, cable or satellite connection 322, internet
connection 324, and wireless antenna 326.
[0048] Content receiver 302 receives content for system 300.
Receiver 302 may receive signals including content from a variety
of sources including, but not limited to, computers, computer
networks, portable devices, set top boxes, over the air broadcasts,
cable broadcasts, satellite broadcasts, Digital versatile Discs
(DVDs), Blue-ray discs, Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld
(DVB-H), Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB), Digital Video
Broadcasting Satellite services to Handhelds (DVB-SH), Digital
Audio Broadcasting (DAB), Digital Video Broadcasting IP Datacasting
(DVB-IPDC), Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), etc. Content
receiver 302 may receive content (e.g., electronic programming
guide information and other content) via cable or satellite
connection 322, internet connection 324, and wireless antenna 326
(e.g., via 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth, Z wave, Digital Broadcast,
etc.).
[0049] Display controller 304 controls display screen 311 of system
300. Display controller 304 may control a variety of display
screens associated with system 300, including but not limited to,
CRTS, LCDs, plasma displays, projection based, and Digital Light
Processing (DLP) displays.
[0050] Command receiver 308 receives commands. Command receiver 308
may receive commands via a variety of receivers including, but not
limited to, infrared receiver and radio frequency receivers. The
commands may have been issued via a remote control. In one
embodiment, command receiver 308 includes an infrared (IR) receiver
310 and a radio frequency (RF) receiver 312.
[0051] The processor 303 processes commands received by system 300
via command receiver 308. The commands received are processed and
executed by system 300. For example, control codes (e.g., increase
volume, change channel, launch an application, launch web browser,
etc.) may be received via an infrared receiver 310 or radio
frequency receiver 312, decoded, and sent to the processor 303.
[0052] Audio controller 316 controls audio output for system 300
including a variety of outputs including, but not limited to, 2,
2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and 8.1 channel audio. The audio content
may be received via content receiver 302. It is appreciated that
audio controller 316 may output to audio equipment integrated
within system 300.
[0053] Transmitter 320 may send signals to a control device (e.g.,
remote control). The signals may include, but are not limited to,
acknowledgments, EPGs (e.g., for download to a remote control)
encrypted information, and information based on on-screen
selections.
[0054] In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention
have been described with reference to numerous specific details
that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thus, the sole
and exclusive indicator of what is, and is intended by the
applicants to be, the invention is the set of claims that issue
from this application, in the specific form in which such claims
issue, including any subsequent correction. Hence, no limitation,
element, property, feature, advantage or attribute that is not
expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim
in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be
regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
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